Port authority discusses public transportation

The Lawrence County Port Authority discussed public transportation during their regular meeting on Tuesday morning, including plans for continuing service once funding for their contract with Tri-State Transit Authority (TTA) runs out.

TTA currently runs routes between Ironton, Huntington and Ashland.

Lawrence County Transit is looking at continuing to run the service, with smaller buses than those currently being utilized. The new plan would set up two loops, one running between Ashland and Ironton, where travelers could then access Ashland’s ABS buses, and another loop running from Proctorville/Chesapeake to Huntington.

Runs would continue to be schedule between Monday and Friday, with no weekend service. The new service would be funded by a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant, funding 80 percent of the costs for the next three years.

Existing buses used for the route need replacing anyway, according to the port authority. The three medium sized buses were described as “well past their useful life,” while the two large buses have, “about three years left.”

While the port authority could sell the buses, they explained that the FTA prefers that they transfer buses like these to another district.

Before any plan is approved, however, the port authority will need to enter into an agreement with Community Action and the Lawrence County Transit Authority.

The port authority also discussed the Ironton town hall meeting on Monday night, specifically the EPA mandates for sewage treatment and the impact that could have on development in the city.

“Finances are tough in Ironton,” said LEDC Executive Director Dr. Bill Dingus, “as they are in other communities.”

But while Ironton’s downtown has been on a slow, steady upward trend when it comes to development, any EPA sanctions could freeze that development in its tracks.

“The EPA can freeze production and development (based on inadequate sewage facilities),” Dingus said. “You have to be concerned about (compliance.)”

In related downtown news, the port authority put development of a parking lot at the corner of Fourth and Center streets on hold while they look at new revenue streams for funding the project.

After returning from executive session, Dingus told the LCPA about a project between the Scioto County Commissioners and that county’s Southern Ohio Port Authority to establish an $85 million bond to encourage a company to locate there. However, the project may be moving over the county line and into Lawrence County. If that is the case, Dingus said, the LCPA should look at partnering with SOPA and the Scioto County Commissioners to help bring those jobs to the region.